Islam - SAT Subject Test in World History

Shortly after the death of the prophet Muhammad, the growing Islamic faith was fractured along ideological lines. The two groups that emerged, and have continued as distinct groups ever since, were the Sunnis and the Shi'ites (sometimes just Shias). Shi'ites believed that the Caliph should be led by the cousin of Muhammad or someone directly related to him. The Sunni believed that his advisor should rule the Caliphate and favor choosing a leader based on more meritocratic means.

Sharia law exists in many countries in the Islamic world. In a country governed by Sharia law, the laws of the nation reflect the laws and tenets of Islam as laid out in the Quran and the hadith.

Sunni and Shi’ite are the two most prominent sects of the Islamic faith. They have been divided since almost the very beginning of their religion and the original disagreement between the two sects has to do with the continuation of the caliphate under the Prophet Muhammad’s son-in-law Ali (for the record the Shia believed Ali should rule, most of the rest did not). In modern times the distinction is particularly important because it has led to sectarian conflict in several Middle Eastern countries - particularly countries like Iran and Iraq where the Shia are in the majority or countries like Syria which have a history of oppression by the majority Sunni.